Anyone ever read a "multi-layered group biography"? If not the latest book from Stephen Sears gives you a chance!
I must confess I didn't think I had, until I remembered Freeman's "Lee's Lieutenants", then the penny dropped! In a lot of ways this 800+ page monster is similar in approach but it doesn't contain any of the potted individual biographies of Freeman's work, or dare I say it, his partisan approach.
The book takes the careers of the High Command of the Army of the Potomac and through the course of the war in the East traces the highs, lows, failures and ultimate success of what it terms "Lincoln's Army". Bad news for all those interested in the West but as the author explains the geographical nature of the conflict and the security of Washington and the Federal Government had influence on a relationship that didn't exist elsewhere.
The book is jammed with detail and informative interaction, on the commanders relationships with each other, subordinates and Lincoln. It's written in Sears's customary engaging manner that combines yards of research, with a flowing narrative. Indeed there is so much in it that one could hand a complete novice the book and by the end they would know pretty much all they need to know about the Eastern Theatre 1861 -1865.
As a result, I was concerned that I would have seen it all before, same old names, same old battles but the personal interaction is weaved into the familiar passage of the War keeping the whole thing feeling fresher than it has any right to be. I dare say similar information, possibly in more depth, can be found in individual biographies of the "usual suspects" and in individual campaign histories but Sear's book works as a continuing stream of events and personalities in a very attractive way and still gives "I didn't know that!" moments as part of the deal.
Like all authors there may be the occasional detail people might quibble with but to be honest the sheer volume of "the volume" left me for one, just marvelling at the effort and not inclined to question minutia.
If you like Sear's work you will love this. If you haven't read his stuff before, this is a hell of a place to start, size wise but well worth it. If you don't like him you probably won't have read this far but I'd still encourage you to give it a go!
Lincoln's Lieutenant's – The High Command of the Army of The Potomac
Stephen W. Sears
Published by: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
